After ‘Etch-A-Sketch Gaffe,’ Romney Reasserts He’s a Conservative

ARBUTUS, Md.— On a day when “the Etch A Sketch gaffe” dominated the discussion on the campaign trail, Mitt Romney reasserted that he’s a “conservative Republican” and said his stance on the issues wouldn’t swerve toward the center in a general election.

Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters during a campaign stop at an American Legion post in Arbutus, Md., Wednesday, March 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

“The issues I’m running on will be exactly the same,” Mr. Romney said in a one-question news conference with reporters after a campaign stop here. “I’m running as a conservative Republican, I was a conservative Republican governor, I’ll be running as a conservative Republican nominee…The policies and positions are the same.”

Mr. Romney’s remark came a day after a decisive win in the Illinois primary and hours after senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said on CNN that the campaign would be able to reset in the general election if the primary forced Mr. Romney too far to the right.